CR

Tachira Rocket Frog

Aromobates orostoma

Declining

Overview

Aromobates orostoma is a species of frog in the family Aromobatidae. It is endemic to Venezuela where it is only known from near its type locality, Boca de Monte in the Táchira state. Its natural habitats are mountain streams in cloud forest. The male protects the eggs that are laid on land. After hatching, the male carries the tadpoles on its back to water where they develop further.

Aromobates orostoma faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development in its restricted montane range. Mining activities and infrastructure development have further fragmented its already limited cloud forest habitat. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the moisture regimes essential for this species' survival in high-altitude environments.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits montane cloud forests and humid highland areas at elevations between 1,800-2,400 meters in the Venezuelan Andes. It requires pristine forest environments with high humidity levels and dense vegetation cover typical of Neotropical cloud forest ecosystems.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recoveryEx-situ conservation

Other threatened species in AROMOBATIDAE

CR

Anomaloglossus tepequem

Unknown
EN

Orellana's Collared Frog

Mannophryne orellana

Stable
EN

Forest Rocket Frog

Aromobates saltuensis

Declining
EN

Aromobates ericksonae

Declining

Threatened in Venezuela

EN

Helena's Marsupial Frog

Gastrotheca helenae

Stable
VU

Ternstroemia steyermarkii

Declining
VU

Lonchocarpus crassispermus

Declining
CR

Machaerium orthocarpum

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Tachira Rocket Frog classified as Critically Endangered?
Tachira Rocket Frog is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Aromobates orostoma faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development in its restricted montane range. Mining activities and infrastructure development have further fragmented its already limited cloud forest habitat. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the moisture regimes essential for this species' survival in high-altitude environments.
Where does Tachira Rocket Frog live?
Tachira Rocket Frog occurs in Venezuela. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Tachira Rocket Frog?
The main threats to Tachira Rocket Frog are 2.1, 2.3, 9.3, and 9.3.4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.